Forest Ecosystems最新文献

{"title":"Adding a storage pool improves 3-PG tree-ring simulations","authors":"Yanfang Wang ,&nbsp;Liang Wei ,&nbsp;Liheng Zhong ,&nbsp;Xizi Yu ,&nbsp;Pengtao Huang ,&nbsp;Fang Wang ,&nbsp;John D. Marshall","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tree rings provide long-term records of tree growth and climate changes, which makes them ideal benchmarks for forest modeling. Tree-ring information has greatly improved the reliability of 3-PG, which is one of the most commonly used process-based forest growth models. Here, we strengthen 3-PG's ability to simulate tree-ring width and stable carbon isotopes (δ¹³C) by enhancing its descriptions of tree physiology. The major upgrade was adding a carbon storage pool for tree-ring formation using stored carbohydrates. We also incorporated previous modifications (replacing the age modifier with a height modifier) of 3-PG and tested their efficacy in improving tree-ring simulations. We ran the model based on two grand fir (<em>Abies grandis</em>) stands. The updated model greatly improved the simulations for both tree-ring widths and δ¹³C. The results represent one of the best tree-ring δ¹³C simulations, which accurately captured the amplitude in annual variations of δ¹³C. The correlations (<em>R</em>²) between simulations and observations reached 0.50 and 0.73 ​at two stands, respectively. The new model also greatly improved the simulations of raw tree-ring widths and detrended ring-width index (RWI). Because of better descriptions of tree physiology and more accurate simulations of tree rings than the previous model version, the updated 3-PG should provide more reliable simulations than previous 3-PG versions when tree-ring information is used as a benchmark in future studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100384"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multidimensional factors influencing ecosystem services and their relationships in alpine ecosystems: A case study of the Daxing'anling forest area, Inner Mongolia","authors":"Laixian Xu ,&nbsp;Jiang He ,&nbsp;Youjun He ,&nbsp;Liang Zhang ,&nbsp;Hui Xu ,&nbsp;Chunwei Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the influencing factors of ecosystem services (ESs) and their relationships is essential for sustainable ecosystem management in degraded alpine ecosystems. There is a lack of integrated multi-model approaches to explore the multidimensional influences on ESs and their relationships in alpine ecosystems. Taking the Daxing'anling forest area, Inner Mongolia (DFAIM) as a case study, this study used the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) model to quantify four ESs—soil conservation (SC), water yield (WY), carbon storage (CS), and habitat quality (HQ)—from 2013 to 2018. We adopted root mean square deviation (RMSD) and coupling coordination degree models (CCDM) to analyze their relationships, and integrated three complementary approaches—optimal parameter-based geographical detector model (OPGDM), gradient boosting regression tree model (GBRTM), and quantile regression model (QRM)—to reveal multidimensional influencing factors. Key findings include the following: (1) From 2013 to 2018, WY, SC, and HQ declined while CS increased. WY was primarily influenced by mean annual precipitation (MAP), forest ratio (RF), and soil bulk density (SBD); CS and HQ by RF and population density (PD); and SC by slope (S), RF, and MAP. Mean annual temperature (MAT), gross domestic product (GDP), and road network density (RND) showed increasing negative impacts. (2) Low trade-off intensity (TI ​&lt; ​0.15) dominated all ES pairs, with RF, MAP, PD, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) being the dominant factors. The factor interactions primarily showed two-factor enhancement patterns. (3) The average coupling coordination degree (CCD) of the four ESs was low and declined over time, with low-CCD areas becoming increasingly prevalent. RF, S, SBD, and NDVI positively influenced CCD, while PD, MAT, GDP, and RND had increasing negative impacts, with over 62% of the factor interactions exceeding the individual factor effects. In summary, ES supply generally decreased. Local relationships showed moderate coordination, while overall relationships indicated primary dysfunction. Land use and natural factors primarily shaped these ES and their relationships, while climate and socioeconomic changes diminished ES supply and intensified competition. We recommend enhancing the resilience of natural systems rather than replacing them, establishing climate adaptation monitoring systems, and promoting conservation tillage and cross-departmental coordination mechanisms for collaborative ES optimization. These results provide valuable insights into the sustainable management of alpine ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100383"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145227226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Size heterogeneity, growth dominance development, and relationships with stand growth in unthinned and thinned loblolly pine plantations","authors":"C.Z. Chen ,&nbsp;Y.H. Weng ,&nbsp;J. Grogan ,&nbsp;L.M. Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined size inequality and size-growth relationships as essential aspects of stand structure in loblolly pine plantations (<em>Pinus taeda</em> L.), particularly focusing on a critical stage with strong competition from mid-rotation to rotation age and changes due to thinning. Data were from a loblolly pine thinning study of multiple sites in the western Gulf region, USA, which were thinned around age 14. Four treatments were evaluated: three thinning intensities (TIs: residual densities of 740, 555, and 370 trees·ha⁻¹) and an unthinned control. An operational thinning method was implemented, involving the removal of every fifth row and selective thinning from below to achieve the desired intensity. The Gini index (GI) for diameter at breast height (DBH), height (<em>H</em>), and volume was computed annually for the first five years since thinning and at year seven, while growth dominance (GD) of these traits was calculated by growth interval. The control exhibited increasing trends over the year in GIs and greater inequality in DBH compared to height (GI ​= ​0.10 vs. 0.04), and thinning reduced both GIs. Competition for DBH growth in the control was weakly asymmetric (GD ​= ​0.06), and thinning decreased GD, fostering weaker asymmetric competitive environments. The control displayed reverse asymmetric competition for height (GD ​= ​−0.10), and thinning strengthened reverse dominance. The thinning effects on reducing GIs and GD increased with TI. The observed patterns of competition appear to stem from adaptive resource allocation strategies rather than being influenced by neighboring tree sizes. The tree volume (VOL_T)-based GI and GD might overestimate size inequality for DBH or height, and misinterpret GD for height. Stand volume growth in the control is linearly related to GD, being negative for DBH and positive for height, indicating GD offers valuable insights into stand growth dynamics. Thinning did not change the relationships but slowed the rates of change. The decline in stand growth associated with reduced DBH GD by thinning suggests that GD itself may not be the primary causal factor behind growth changes by thinning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100382"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145104459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Black locust under long-term rainfall exclusion treatment changed its drought-resistance strategy to an adventurous pattern that potentially raised the risk of hydraulic damage","authors":"Mei-Jun Liu ,&nbsp;Le Chang ,&nbsp;Qiu-Wen Chen ,&nbsp;Jinhong Guan ,&nbsp;Guoqing Li ,&nbsp;Sheng Du","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100380","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mechanism of plant response to water availability is a crucial research area in ecosystem adaptation to dry environments. Global change in precipitation patterns exacerbates drought risks in many regions, necessitating investigations of tree responses to drought. However, compared with seasonal drought events, how water use characteristics respond to long-term rainfall reduction remains poorly characterized. Here, we assessed the effects of multi-year rainfall exclusion treatments (in the 4th and 5th years) on sap flow, canopy conductance (<em>G</em>_C), and the response pattern to varying transpiration driving force (vapor pressure deficit (VPD)) and soil moisture conditions in a black locust (<em>Robinia pseudoacacia</em>) plantation in the China's Loess Plateau. The experimental platform includes paired plots of a 30% throughfall exclusion treatment and a control within the plantation. The reduction of soil water content (SWC), either as temporal variations or as a result of rainfall exclusion treatment, generally lowered sap flow, <em>G</em>_C, and the sensitivity to VPD. The difference in each index between plots was substantially greater than that among temporal variations in SWC within a plot. The trees in the control plot showed strong responses of <em>G</em>_C to temporal SWC changes, exhibiting an isohydric behavior. However, those subjected to long-term rainfall exclusion treatment had lower variations in <em>G</em>_C and the sensitivity across different SWC, exhibiting an anisohydric behavior under limited water conditions. Additionally, rainfall exclusion treatment decreased basal area (BA) increment but increased water use efficiency (WUE). The transition to anisohydric behavior suggests an adventurous pattern of water use strategy that has risks of hydraulic damage and shoot mortality. These findings provide insights into the different adaptation strategies within a species to diverse intensity and duration of drought conditions, which is crucial for sustainable forest management under climate change conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100380"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145018869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variation in pine growth response to site preparation methods in the Lower Coastal Plain of the southeastern US","authors":"Dehai Zhao,&nbsp;Bronson P. Bullock,&nbsp;Stephen M. Kinane,&nbsp;Mingliang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100381","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the long-term growth responses of pine plantations in the Lower Coastal Plain of Florida to different site preparation (SP) treatments, including variations in bedding timing (early or late), frequency (single or double), and herbicide use (banded or broadcast pre-plant application), with or without first-year post-plant herbaceous weed control (HWC). The results showed that growth responses varied by location, primarily influenced by the effectiveness of vegetation control, especially in suppressing woody shrubs. Pre-plant herbicide treatments consistently improved growth, with broadcast applications often performing as well or better than the banded treatments. Although bedding timing and frequency influenced growth at some sites, their effects were inconsistent. Superior growth was observed in treatments combining early bedding with pre-plant herbicide, even without HWC, highlighting the critical role of effective vegetation management in enhancing the productivity of pine plantations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100381"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145018866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamics of fine root biomass and morphology of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest stands along a soil moisture gradient","authors":"Alexandra Koller ,&nbsp;Alina Azekenova ,&nbsp;Patrick Wordell-Dietrich ,&nbsp;Robin Schäfferling ,&nbsp;Lilli Zeh ,&nbsp;Stefan Julich ,&nbsp;Karsten Kalbitz ,&nbsp;Karl-Heinz Feger ,&nbsp;Goddert von Oheimb","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100379","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100379","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Increasing evidence suggests that fine roots are particularly sensitive to environmental changes, making them essential in responding and adapting forest ecosystems to climate change. However, we still lack a fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms that control fine root plasticity. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of soil moisture changes on fine root dynamics and morphology of European beech (<em>Fagus sylvatica</em> L.). We conducted a 30-month study of fine root traits, i.e., fine root biomass (FRB), productivity, mortality, turnover, specific root length (SRL), specific root area (SRA), and root tip frequency (RTF), along a soil moisture gradient from dry, intermediate, and wet conditions in a near-natural mature beech forest. Sequential root coring with accompanying soil measurements was carried out at three study sites reflecting the gradient in soil water availability. For most fine root traits, we found significant differences between the upper 10 ​cm and lower soil depths. FRB showed significant differences between study sites, with the lowest FRB at the dry site. However, productivity, turnover, SRL, SRA, and RTF showed no significant differences between sites, but a high variability between seasons, suggesting an adaptation to short-term fluctuations but not to long-term gradients in soil water content (SWC). Linear mixed models revealed that decreasing SWC led to a significant increase in SRL, SRA, and RTF (standardized coefficients: −1.0 ​± ​0.46, −1.1 ​± ​0.46, and −1.1 ​± ​0.43, respectively). Our observations indicate an adaptation strategy of beech to low availability of soil water and drought by forming thin absorptive roots and by maintaining a high seasonal plasticity to tolerate fluctuations in soil moisture. By highlighting the belowground morphological adaptations of mature forests to low soil water availability, our results provide novel insights into the structure and dynamics of forest ecosystem adaptations to climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100379"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145104455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of broadleaf tree introduction on rhizosphere fungal communities and root phosphorus-cycling genes in conifers of near-natural transformed plantations","authors":"Zhanpeng Ye ,&nbsp;Chen Ning ,&nbsp;Ting Liu ,&nbsp;Meirong Yan ,&nbsp;Wenyan Cai ,&nbsp;Jiyang Xiao ,&nbsp;Wende Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100378","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus (P) is crucial for plant growth. However, its low availability in subtropical soils necessitates that trees rely on microorganisms for effective P acquisition. The introduction of broadleaf trees has been shown to facilitate P acquisition in coniferous plantations by altering the rhizosphere fungal communities. Despite this, functional shifts in these communities and the expression of root phosphorus cycling genes (PCGs) remain inadequately understood. This study investigated coniferous <em>Pinus massoniana</em> and <em>Cunninghamia lanceolata</em> plantations interplanted with broadleaf species associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Rhizosphere soil and fine roots from the conifers were analyzed to examine soil bioavailable P fractions, root mycorrhizal colonization, rhizosphere fungal community composition, enzyme function predictions, and root PCGs expression. We found that citric-P in rhizospheric soil of <em>P. massoniana</em> increased with the introduction of <em>Quercus gilva</em> (an ECM-associated tree species), whereas Bray-P content in the rhizosphere of <em>C. lanceolata</em> decreased upon the introduction of either <em>Q. gilva</em> or <em>Phoebe zhennan</em> (an ECM-associated tree species). Moreover, the relative abundance of saprophytic fungi (e.g., <em>Mortierella</em>) increased following the introduction of broadleaf trees. Specifically, the introduction of <em>Q. gilva</em> was associated with elevated levels of organic P mineralization genes (e.g., <em>phoA</em>) and enzymes (e.g., phytases and acid phosphatase (ACP)) in conifers. In contrast, the introduction of <em>P. zhennan</em> increased the expression of inorganic P solubilization genes (such as <em>qppC</em> in <em>P. massoniana</em> roots and <em>ppa</em> in <em>C. lanceolata</em> roots). Key contributors to P absorption in conifer roots included <em>Cenococcum</em>, <em>Rhizopogon</em>, and <em>Glomus</em>. This study advances our understanding of P cycling in coniferous rhizospheres and the dynamics of coexisting mycorrhizal tree systems, yielding valuable insights into sustainable management of plantation ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100378"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144900516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tree competition in West African tropical forests mediated by the functional attributes of species and variation in soil moisture","authors":"Forzia Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Arne Buechling ,&nbsp;Stephen Adu-Bredu ,&nbsp;Shalom Addo-Danso ,&nbsp;Akwasi Duah-Gyamfi ,&nbsp;Yadvinder Malhi ,&nbsp;Martin Svátek ,&nbsp;Radim Matula","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100377","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100377","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the ecological processes shaping competitive interactions among forest trees is crucial for predicting ecosystem productivity and climate change resilience. However, few studies have investigated how the biological attributes of tropical species may affect competitive outcomes under varying resource conditions. We collected and analysed a 10-year dataset of radial growth rates in canopy trees from a network of forest inventory plots located in divergent forest types over an extensive meteorological gradient in Ghana, West Africa. We used nonlinear models to estimate the relative reduction in potential growth (basal area increment) of individual target trees of a given species as a consequence of the combined effects of (1) target tree size, (2) variation in crowding levels by neighbouring trees, (3) the functional attributes of those neighbours (wood density and shade tolerance), and (4) local soil moisture levels. Analyses were conducted separately for the 15 most common species in the inventory network. In opposition to neutral theory, our findings indicate that the strength of interactions among competing species was distinctly asymmetric and dynamic. Wood density was an important characteristic that modified competitive outcomes for most species, particularly under varying levels of resource availability. Specifically, dense wood was an attribute that conferred comparatively stronger competitive ability in moisture-limited conditions. Larger individuals were notably less sensitive to the effects of moisture-dependent competition. Our results suggest that attributes such as wood density may reflect divergent life history strategies that differentiate species’ fitness and competitive ability in varying environments. The dynamic nature of competition, influenced by a complex interplay of biological and abiotic factors, implies that more prevalent dry periods, which have been forecast for tropical Africa, may impact the physiognomy and function of future forest communities in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100377"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144912680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential for improved groundwater recharge and dry-season flows through forest landscape restoration on degraded lands in the tropics","authors":"L. Adrian Bruijnzeel ,&nbsp;Jorge L. Peña-Arancibia ,&nbsp;Douglas Sheil ,&nbsp;Alan D. Ziegler ,&nbsp;Jun Zhang ,&nbsp;Bob W. Zwartendijk ,&nbsp;Christian Birkel ,&nbsp;Ge Sun ,&nbsp;Yanhui Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoping Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100376","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As interest in tropical forest restoration accelerates, understanding its hydrological implications is increasingly urgent. While concerns persist that reforestation will reduce annual water yields—particularly in drier climates—we highlight conditions under which forest landscape restoration (FLR) can improve seasonal water availability, especially during the dry season. We examine the trade-off between increased vegetation water use (“pumping”) and enhanced infiltration and subsurface retention (“sponging”) following forestation of degraded lands, the recovery of vegetation's ability to capture “occult” precipitation (fog) in specific coastal and montane settings, and the role of forest cover in enhancing moisture recycling and transport at multiple scales. A pan-tropical sensitivity analysis shows that in degraded landscapes with deep soils and pronounced rainfall seasonality, infiltration gains following forestation can offset or exceed evaporative losses, thereby supporting groundwater recharge and increasing dry-season flows in approximately 10% of cases, with an additional 8% showing near-neutral (slightly negative) outcomes. These findings challenge the assumption that forestation uniformly reduces water availability and underscore the need to prioritize dry-season flow recovery—rather than annual water yield—as a central hydrological goal of FLR. We call for trans-disciplinary research and long-term monitoring to inform forest restoration strategies, particularly in seasonally dry regions where water scarcity is most acute.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100376"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145010034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biodiversity in primary vs. managed forests: Biological legacies of old living and large dead trees drive lichen diversity","authors":"Daniela Dúhová ,&nbsp;Jeňýk Hofmeister ,&nbsp;Garrett W. Meigs ,&nbsp;Josef Halda ,&nbsp;Daniel Kozák ,&nbsp;Matej Ferenčík ,&nbsp;Rhiannon Gloor ,&nbsp;Katarína Markuljaková ,&nbsp;Jakob Pavlin ,&nbsp;Ivo Pardus ,&nbsp;Audrey R. Salerno ,&nbsp;Michal Frankovič ,&nbsp;Pavel Janda ,&nbsp;Martin Dušátko ,&nbsp;Miroslav Svoboda ,&nbsp;Martin Mikoláš","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100374","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2025.100374","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthropogenic activities have significantly contributed to the loss and fragmentation of primary forests across the globe, which has accelerated biodiversity decline, particularly among highly specialised species dependent on unique forest structures. Nevertheless, comparative studies between primary and managed forests are scarce, despite their importance for effective monitoring and conservation planning. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comparative study using a unique dataset of permanent study plots established across some of the best-preserved, mixed-beech primary forests and their adjacent managed counterparts in the Western Carpathian Mountains. We assessed the effects of forest structure and tree age—determined through extensive dendrochronological reconstructions—on contemporary lichen communities. Lichen species richness and the richness of red-listed species were 26% and 50% higher in primary forests than in managed forests, respectively, highlighting the outstanding conservation importance of primary forests. Generalised least squares (GLS) modelling demonstrated that in managed forests, lichen species richness was strongly associated with structural attributes: It increased with maximum tree age and the diameter of standing deadwood, and decreased with higher basal area (BA) of living trees, likely due to reduced understory light. In contrast, no structural variables significantly explained richness in primary forests, likely due to structural saturation and widespread microhabitat availability. Elevation emerged as the sole variable with significant explanatory strength.</div><div>These findings underscore the critical role of structural complexity in supporting lichen diversity under different management regimes and provide a robust evidence base for promoting elements such as old trees, deadwood—especially large standing deadwood—and reduced canopy density. At the same time, they reaffirm the irreplaceable value of primary forests as biodiversity refuges and highlight the need for landscape-level conservation strategies that integrate both intact primary and structurally enriched managed forests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100374"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}